P

n23

PSYCHOGENESIS

The origin and subsequent development of behavior, personality and processes concerned with mental and psychic action. 2. The first instance

PSYCHOLINGUISTICS

The use of formal language modes to delve into the use of language and its accompanying cognitive processes. Noam Chomsky

PSYCHOLOGICAL FIELD

The psychological field refers to the life space or environment in which an individual exists and functions.

PSYCHOLOGICAL TREATMENT

Treatments and education designed to increase a client's adaptability and independent function. Such treatments could include psychotherapy, clinical intervention and

PSYCHOMOTOR AGITATION

Also referred to as psychomotor excitement, psychomotor agitation is characterized by restless activity inappropriate to context. Examples are pacing, hand

PSYCHOPATHOLOGY

The scientific study of mental disorder(s). The field covers the theory, research, diagnosis and treatment of psychological diseases. It is

PSYCHOSEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

Also referred to as libidinal development, psychosexual development is the classic model of sexuality as put for by Sigmund Freud.

PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDER

Psychosomatic disorders are those in which psychological factors play a major role in the origin or course of the disorder.

PSYCHOTOGENIC

A drug-induced state resembling psychosis, with all the features of a psychotic episode including sensory illusion, hallucination and behavioral disturbance.

PUBLIC SERVICE PSYCHOLOGY

A field of psychology dedicated and designed to provide services to the public. Public service psychology is most often found

PULVINAR

A large nucleus in the brain that forms the dorsal posterior region of the thalmus. It has sensory and motor

PURE MICROCEPHALY

Pure microcephaly is a condition characterized by an abnormally small cranium, however without the presence of any other congenital anomalies.

PURPOSIVE PSYCHOLOGY

An approach to psychology that assumes organisms have conscious goals and that those goals motivate and direct their behavior.

PYKNOLEPSY

a form of absence epilepsy in children

PRESSOR EFFECT

The physiological effect of vasoconstrictors on a patient's blood vessel walls affecting veins and arteries.

PRETERM VIABILITY

The possibility of survival of a fetus outside the womb prior to full-term delivery.

PREVOCATIONAL TRAINING

Designed as a prepatory training, prevocational training does not concentrate on job-specific skills, but rather attempts to enhance a subject's

PRIMAL-HORDE THEORY

In his work entitled Totem and Taboo, published in 1913 Sigmund Freud theorized the concept of the original tribe or

PRIMARY CORTEX

Any region of the cerebral cortex that receives information from sensory receptors or communicates with muscles for action. Examples are:

PRIMARY LINE OF SIGHT

An imaginary line drawn from the center of the pupil to an object.